Is there anything better than a healthy and easy meal prep recipe? Let me tell you this vegan lentil soup recipe or lentil stew is amazing. Warm, comforting and totally satisfying. It is made with simple (cheap) whole food ingredients for an easy plant-based family recipe.
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The best thing about this recipe is just how easy it is to make. Well actually maybe the fact that it is easy, cheap, and healthy makes it a winner.
But seriously, this is a perfect recipe to make when you are tired of cooking elaborate meals, or on a busy weeknight, or when you are in need of a cheap meal that can serve many mouths. It is actually our go-to recipe after the holiday. Because the thought of cooking anything more elaborate than this easy vegan lentil soup recipe breaks my mind.
Oh and here is one more reason to love this recipe. This healthy meal prep recipe can be batch made and freezes very well. So you can have healthy and easy lunches all week long!
Bring The Family Together
Like most foodies, my husband and I do enjoy elaborate fancy-rich meals. And after transitioning to a vegan diet I thought I needed to compensate for the lack of meat with rich flavours and weird ingredients. But this could not be farther from the truth. And thanks to my kids that perspective has totally changed, thank goodness right?
Isn't the goal of every mom to cook delicious yet simple meals? No parent wants to be exhausted or stressed with a sink full of dishes by dinner. We want to relax at the table, eat, talk, and then have the time to be together and play before bed. At least that is true for me.
I have learned to rely on simple meals like this vegan lentil soup recipe for this reason. You see not too long ago my oldest son mentioned that he asked Santa for a kitchen robot. When I asked him why he replied, "So you don't have to spend so much time in the kitchen Mommy". This broke my heart and melted it all at once.
It made me realize that my family doesn't need rich, elaborate meals. Weeknights are so short with our busy schedule. And our kids miss us and just want to be WITH us. And they should be more important than dishes right? So bring on the 1-pot simple recipes, please.
A Healthy 1 Pot Recipe
Lentils are something I try and feed to my family a few times a week. This is because they are super high in iron and zinc. Therefore they should be a part of everyone's diet, especially vegans and vegetarians. If you're curious about all the benefits of lentils and want some more lentil recipes then you can check out this post Spiced lentil buddha bowls.
There are so many easy lentil recipes and I find lentils to be one of the best replacements for meat in many dishes. Lentils make a great bolognese sauce and are easy enough to add to a rice or noddle bowl. It is one of the first beans my kids loved after we transitioned to a vegan diet.
How to Make Lentil Stew
Like I mentioned before this recipe is so so easy. All you need is 1 pot and a hand full of simple ingredients. You an also change the vegetables you use to whatever is in season. Make sure to check your fridge for expiring veggies that you could easily add in.
We love carrots, celery, potatoes, beans, kale, spinach, and sometimes no veggies at all.
Kick up your lentil stew with cinnamon
Yes, I added cinnamon to this recipe! And you can thank me later after you try it. I actually got the idea to add cinnamon in after trying a spiced taco recipe by Foodbymaria! It was a game-changer recipe! So I thought to experiment adding it to our lentil stew. Cinnamon is high in antioxidants and adds a rich wonderful flavour to this stew!
Looking for more...
Anyhoo, I'll keep today's post short and head on to the recipe! I hope you enjoyed this easy healthy family recipe. For more recipes like this please be sure to check out these:
- The easiest eggplant meatball recipe
- High protein meal prep meatballs
- Kid-approved crispy vegan chicken fingers
- Vegan shepherd's pie
Let's CONNECT! If you make this recipe please like and comment, that would mean a lot to me! And tag me with your re-creations so I can share over on Instagram!
Until then, tchau
📖 Recipe
Easy vegan lentil stew recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups green lentils
- 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- 1 white onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups white potatoes diced (2 small potatoes)
- 2 cups carrots dices (about 1 medium carrot)
- 2 cups green beans diced
- 2 cups kale chopped
- 2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon crushed chili peppers
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat saute the onions in the olive oil until soft. Then add in all the spices and garlic and a splash of the veggie broth. Cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Next, add in the lentils and stir to coat. Then add in the remining veggie broth and water. Cover and bring to a boil.Tthen reduce the heat to medium high and cook the lentils for 20 minutes.
- Now add in all the veggies and cook for another 15 minutes. Or until the lentils and veggies are soft.
- Serve with some rice or top with some fresh avocado. Can be frozen in mason jars for 3 months or stored in the fridge for 4 days.
